Electrical question

[dsprint2000]

OK, time to upgrade the old shop lighting to new 4' shop lights. Question though, the current line runs from the panel to the switch. In between the light is spliced in. I noted that the light has both white and brown(?) wires tied into the white only. The black and ground are uninterrupted. What I want to know is, if I just pull that light out and replace with an outlet on the ceiling, do I have to just hook up both sides of the white with no black or ground (like currently is)? Something seems awry to me.....

David

 

[TOO Z MAXX]

Do you want the outlet to be hot all the time, or hooked to the switch? I am assuming you want the outlet to be switched to turn on and off for the new light that will plug into it.
The white wire that goes to the switch should be taped up with black tape. This is the wire you should wire up to the brass colored screw on your new outlet The white wire going back to the panel should be wired to the silver screw on the outlet. The ground wire goes to the green screw on the outlet. Make sure you turn off all power before wiring.

 

[dsprint2000]

The white wire that goes to the switch should be taped up with black tape. This is the wire you should wire up to the brass colored screw on your new outlet The white wire going back to the panel should be wired to the silver screw on the outlet. The ground wire goes to the green screw on the outlet.

Yes- want the outlet to be switched.

Lost me there - sounds like you say tape off the white from switch to outlet, but then say screw that one to the brass side. Also, what about the black wire? Leave it uninterrupted?

Appreciate the help!


David

 

[TOO Z MAXX]

The white wire going to the switch should be wrapped in black tape so it looks like a black wire. This tells anyone who opens the box that this is a hot wire (when the switch is in the on position). If it was left white someone could confuse it for a neutral wire. Yes leave the black wire interupted.
Imagine the electricity flowing down the black wire from the panel to the switch. Now it has to get to the light from the switch. It must use the white wire to do this, thus making it a hot wire and must be taped up with black electrical tape.

 

[dsprint2000]

Gotcha!

Thanks a bunch....

David